Shoulder decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder disorder and right shoulder disorder. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ankle sprain, and hypertension/heart disease (now claimed as a heart murmur). The claims for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and residuals of in-service left great toe injury have been granted.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder pain and PTSD were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional impairment or other criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 4, 1998, for the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) because there is no evidence that she was unemployable prior to this date.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities were denied. The right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, while the left knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for tendonitis in his right shoulder and history of thoracic spine strain, finding that the current disability ratings adequately compensate him.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted sufficient to reopen the claims of bilateral shoulder disability, right knee disability, right hand and fingers disability, lupus erythematosus, generalized degenerative arthritis, hypertension, Sjorgren's disease, stomach disability, prostate disability, residuals of a fractured right forefinger, and residuals of an injury to the left side. The veteran is seeking to reopen these claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating of 20 percent for his right shoulder injury with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining the veteran's service personnel records and arranging a VA psychiatric examination. The claims for PTSD, back disorder, and right shoulder disorder will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current shoulder, upper back, and neck problems are not related to his military service or a pre-existing condition. The evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current right wrist, left shoulder, bilateral leg, or fibromyalgia disorders related to service. Therefore, the veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran is not shown to have a chronic disability, manifested by joint pain of the hands, shoulders and knees, due to disease or injury which was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has ordered additional development of the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's right shoulder disorder since January 23, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right shoulder disability is not related to disease or injury during his active military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, refractive error, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and arthritis as secondary to his service-connected shrapnel wounds.

The Board found no evidence of a current lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disability, or left shoulder disability related to service.,The veteran's current disabilities are attributed to post-service injuries and degenerative changes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings for residuals of a fracture of the left scapula, residuals of a left shoulder contusion, and cicatrix of the posterior chest. The evidence does not support higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's current right shoulder disability is related to his active service, granting service connection for this condition.